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GRAPPLING WITH
SUCCESS – Jersey City resident Alfred Martino poses
with his two dogs. His young adult book “Pinned” was published
recently, and he is working on another.
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Alfred Martino, the co-founder of
an audio book company and a long-time resident of Jersey City, had his
debut novel, "Pinned," published in March, 2005.
"Pinned" follows the wrestling season of two boys, one from
tony Short Hills (where Martino grew up) and the other from a fictional
more urban town, who eventually compete for the New Jersey high school
state championship. Martino uses wrestling as a backdrop to explore the
relationships of these boys to their families, girlfriends, teammates and
coaches.
"I don't think boys read enough," said Martino, who wrestled in
high school. "I wrote 'Pinned' to depict the sport of wrestling in a
realistic light, with a story that would be of interest to readers,
particularly teenage boys."
The book has gotten good reviews. School
Library Journal wrote, "The portrayal of the dedication required and
the varied motivations of student athletes is certainly on target. Many
teens will identify with the boys' struggles both on and off the
mat."
Martino, a New Jersey native, spent time
in Los Angeles before returning to Jersey City, primarily because of its
proximity to New York City. "With my business [Listen & Live
Audio in East Hanover], it helps being accessible to Manhattan," he
said.
Martino has been taken by the charm of Jersey City, so much so that he
recently invested in two condos in the area. "This city has a number
of desirable neighborhoods, but I think Hamilton Park is the
nicest," he said. "My two dogs, Daisy and Sara, love it. The
only drawback is that the commute to my business is a long one. Still,
it's nice to come back to Jersey City at the end of the day."
The book was published by Harcourt Inc. An unabridged audiobook version
was also published.
Next book Martino's next book, also set in New Jersey,
will touch upon the topic of rape and sports. "In our society,
athletes get away with a lot more than they should," said Martino.
"This problem has been around a long time, but it's getting much
worse now." "Pinned" is available through Amazon.com,
BarnesandNoble.com, and at all major book stores.
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